WEATHER: Rain or shine, the event goes on. I would guess if there was severe weather that would not be the case, but plan on being there no matter what. Of course even a rainstorm can't stop a Diva from being fabulous!
TIME: If you can assist with decorating the carts - please plan on meeting at the MELSA booth in Rice Park at 11 a.m. It is located across from the Library. It will be easy to find as it will be the POPULAR booth since they have fun activities AND a DJ! We'll hang out for about 10 minutes for everyone who is arriving at 11 to get there and go to the SPPL all at once since we will need to be escorted to the carts. Whoever gets there first, please get the decorating supplies from Kathleen who will be in the MELSA booth.
We'll go into the St. Paul Library to decorate carts and then change. Once again you can stash your stuff underneath MELSA's tables in their booth.
If you are unable to help with decorating, please plan on meeting at the MELSA booth at noon. This will allow you time to get changed and all of us to check in by 12:30 p.m. - which is the deadline for unit checkin.
PARKING: Parking can be validated at the Victory Ramp, on Wabasha Street between 4th and 5th Streets. This is on a first come, first serve basis. If the ramp is full, there are several other ramps close by, I recommend the Lawson Ramp on 5th Street. There will only be parking validation for the Victory Ramp.
CHECK IN: There is a check in table in Washington Street between 5th and 6th. Please check in to the table to find out the unit number and order.
RELEASE/WAIVER: You may have to sign one when you check in. Last year we received them at the last minute and I haven't seen anything come through my email yet.
HOSPITALITY TENT: This year you need a badge to enter the hospitality tent. I guess there was some abuse of this wonderful volunteer benefit in the past which made it necessary to issue badges. I've been assured that the Reading Divas will receive badges.
T-SHIRT: Alas, they cut back expenses this year so we will not receive one. If you have your heart set on getting one, check with Kathleen at the MELSA booth to see if they have any extras.
PARADE: Begins at 1 p.m. and lasts just about 30 minutes. Its a short one (but very, very fun)
NEW THIS YEAR: BELL RINGING: All participants in the Parade will be given a bell for the Parade. At 1:15-as part of the Saint Paul Cathedral Centennial Celebration-the Parade will stop (I hope all units are around the park) and ring their bell. This is a ringing for Peace. We will be joining the Cathedral and 50 other churches in the Twin Cities for the Bell Ringing.
This sounds really neat. I'm not positive how they will signal all the units when it is time to stop and ring the bell but we may have to abort a cart manuever when the time arrives. Anyone just dying to be the bell ringer?
STAGE PERFORMANCE: There will be a DJ and sound system. We are scheduled for 2:30 p.m. I'm hopeful that there is some flexibility and we can go on sooner. Otherwise plan on visiting the hospitality tent after the parade and before the performance.
ASSIGNED BOOK CART NUMBERS: To assist us when we were planning the stage routine we assigned everyone a number. We'll get the number printed and taped to the handle of the cart for you. We tried to mix up Divas who were able to attend practice with those who were not able to make it.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Book Cart Decorating Divas needed before the parade June 3
Good news: SPPL is generously allowing the use of ten of their book carts for the Flint Hills Festival parade on June 3.
Not so good news: We don't have a volunteer decorating crew available the day before the parade to decorate the carts.
Good news: The Reading Divas get to put their multi-talents to work decorating carts before the parade begins.
Not so good news: We need the decorating divas to arrive around 11 a.m. as we will need 30 to 60 minutes to get the carts decorated, and another 30 minutes or so to practice the stage routine and change into our diva duds.
Good news: The decorating will be simpler than last year. This year the cart decor will consist of metallic fringe. Period.
Please, please, please consider coming early to help decorate the carts.
Not so good news: We don't have a volunteer decorating crew available the day before the parade to decorate the carts.
Good news: The Reading Divas get to put their multi-talents to work decorating carts before the parade begins.
Not so good news: We need the decorating divas to arrive around 11 a.m. as we will need 30 to 60 minutes to get the carts decorated, and another 30 minutes or so to practice the stage routine and change into our diva duds.
Good news: The decorating will be simpler than last year. This year the cart decor will consist of metallic fringe. Period.
Please, please, please consider coming early to help decorate the carts.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Fun Book Cart Drill Team Clips
Have you seen these clips from the 2006 ALA book cart drill team competitions? If not, click on the links below.
As you'll see, the ability to ham it up is a great skill to have when you're part of a book cart drill team!
The Book Divas (2.57 minutes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqU6D50QVtM
Mr Sandman "the Bookaneers" Seattle Public (2.24 minutes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_f-X_lhJfoo
The Pitt Crew clip (5 minutes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFtjnxm_wiQ
Tulane Book Cart Drill Team (2.54 minutes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlNm0TZrnyQ
From "what's new in libraries" (2.20 minutes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpFf1i1_g5I
Book Diva practice (1.37 minutes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcJV-HcJQAs
Enjoy!
As you'll see, the ability to ham it up is a great skill to have when you're part of a book cart drill team!
The Book Divas (2.57 minutes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqU6D50QVtM
Mr Sandman "the Bookaneers" Seattle Public (2.24 minutes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_f-X_lhJfoo
The Pitt Crew clip (5 minutes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFtjnxm_wiQ
Tulane Book Cart Drill Team (2.54 minutes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlNm0TZrnyQ
From "what's new in libraries" (2.20 minutes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpFf1i1_g5I
Book Diva practice (1.37 minutes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcJV-HcJQAs
Enjoy!
Monday, May 21, 2007
ArtMoves Parade - just a quick update
Wow! The first parade is less than two weeks away!
We're still working out the details on getting the book carts to the parade site. We're are very hopeful that that SPPL will generously allow us to use 10 of their carts for the parade.
Last year the carts were decorated the day before the parade, but that will not happen this year. We'll need some Library Reading Divas to arrive early to assist with attaching the cart decor (mostly metallic fringe) before the parade begins. If we get enough people it won't take more than an extra 30 to 45 minutes.
I am playing phone tag with the parade organizers about the t-shirts, parking, and a place to change into the diva wear (if you don't wear it to the event).
The last practice session is schedule for this coming Saturday, May 26 at 10 a.m. If you can make it, great! If not, no problem! And as usual, if you know anyone who decides at the last minute they want to join in the fun just bring them along with you.
If I get more information before Saturday I'll post again.
We're still working out the details on getting the book carts to the parade site. We're are very hopeful that that SPPL will generously allow us to use 10 of their carts for the parade.
Last year the carts were decorated the day before the parade, but that will not happen this year. We'll need some Library Reading Divas to arrive early to assist with attaching the cart decor (mostly metallic fringe) before the parade begins. If we get enough people it won't take more than an extra 30 to 45 minutes.
I am playing phone tag with the parade organizers about the t-shirts, parking, and a place to change into the diva wear (if you don't wear it to the event).
The last practice session is schedule for this coming Saturday, May 26 at 10 a.m. If you can make it, great! If not, no problem! And as usual, if you know anyone who decides at the last minute they want to join in the fun just bring them along with you.
If I get more information before Saturday I'll post again.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Divas Go Bananas at second practice
What a fun group of divas this is proving to be! For those of you who were able to make this practice thank you for giving up an hour of your Saturday to work on the routine for the upcoming parade season.
The stage performance came together this morning and thanks to S (from HCL) we have a fun and energetic opening - the Banana Peel song!
Recap of the stage routine:
The stage performance came together this morning and thanks to S (from HCL) we have a fun and energetic opening - the Banana Peel song!
Recap of the stage routine:
- Enter two by two with a criss-cross movement
- Line up in one long line across the middle of the stage
- Move to the front of the bookcarts
- Do the Banana Peel song
- Move to back of the bookcarts
- Move into two lines
MUSIC BEGINS
- Spin bookcarts
- Form an outer circle (counter clock-wise) and inner circle (clockwise)
- Move into one line
- Wheel spoke move - one full rotation
- Alternate divas step forward and backward 1 and 1-1/2 times
- Front row divas - Romantic twirl
- Back row divas - Romantic twirl
- All divas - kick twirl
- Form three pinwheels
- Move into one long line - primp and ham it up until end of music
MUSIC ENDS
A (from DCL) INTRODUCES LIBRARY CHANT
- Divas keep beat on bookcarts
- Quiet the crowds
- The Name Game - each Diva moves to front of stage while her name is chanted
ENDING
- A (from DCL) invites everyone to Go Bananas at their library and tells where the MELSA booth is located
- Divas move off stage in single file
I'll send the routine to everyone who has signed up to participate this summer the parade routine, the words to the banana peel song, and the words to the library chant.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Como Zoo Event - June 14
I have more details on the Library Reading Diva appearance at the Summer Reading Program kick-off event at the Como Zoo on Thursday, June 14.
There will not be a book cart drill team performance at the zoo. The logistics of getting the book carts to the zoo and finding an area for the performance proved to be more difficult that we originally thought it would be.
However, that doesn't mean that the MELSA Library Reading Divas are not wanted or needed at this event.
There are many people who visit the zoo and are unaware of the library's presence that day. That is where you come in! If you are participating at this event you will act as a roaming ambassador for the library. You may be at the entrance as a greeter, you may be helping out at a booth with tattoos or the trivia wheel, or you may help direct people to the various activities.
The Como Zoo event will be a great opportunity to interact with the children and their families.
Oh, and be prepared to have your photo taken with the visitors. People love their library.
There will not be a book cart drill team performance at the zoo. The logistics of getting the book carts to the zoo and finding an area for the performance proved to be more difficult that we originally thought it would be.
However, that doesn't mean that the MELSA Library Reading Divas are not wanted or needed at this event.
There are many people who visit the zoo and are unaware of the library's presence that day. That is where you come in! If you are participating at this event you will act as a roaming ambassador for the library. You may be at the entrance as a greeter, you may be helping out at a booth with tattoos or the trivia wheel, or you may help direct people to the various activities.
The Como Zoo event will be a great opportunity to interact with the children and their families.
Oh, and be prepared to have your photo taken with the visitors. People love their library.
First practice a success
There may have only been four of us at practice but we accomplished a lot. Practice began a bit unorganized but last year's routine was quickly remembered and the majority of the time was spent on the creation of the brand-new stage routine.
The stage routine is going to be a fun one. We are able to incorporate book cart moves on stage that just don't work while walking a parade route. And oh! The romantic twirl move (courtesy of The Library Book Cart Precision Drill Team Manual is so much fun to do they may never get us off of the stage.
The stage routine consists of criss-cross, home position, rotating circles, the spoke, forward/backward transition move, romantic twirl, kick twirl, pinwheel, ending at home position. The routine finishes with the library chant and an invite for audience participation. Don't know what I'm talking about? Better come to practice! Okay, I'm just kidding. I know the practice dates don't fit into all of your schedules. No worries, it'll come together just fine.
What we need now is music for the stage routine - any ideas?
The next practice is set for Sat., May 12 at 10 a.m. We'll spend most of our time working on the stage routine as there are a couple of moves that will require precision on our part.
Hope to see you there!
The stage routine is going to be a fun one. We are able to incorporate book cart moves on stage that just don't work while walking a parade route. And oh! The romantic twirl move (courtesy of The Library Book Cart Precision Drill Team Manual is so much fun to do they may never get us off of the stage.
The stage routine consists of criss-cross, home position, rotating circles, the spoke, forward/backward transition move, romantic twirl, kick twirl, pinwheel, ending at home position. The routine finishes with the library chant and an invite for audience participation. Don't know what I'm talking about? Better come to practice! Okay, I'm just kidding. I know the practice dates don't fit into all of your schedules. No worries, it'll come together just fine.
What we need now is music for the stage routine - any ideas?
The next practice is set for Sat., May 12 at 10 a.m. We'll spend most of our time working on the stage routine as there are a couple of moves that will require precision on our part.
Hope to see you there!
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